Last night I had a horrible dream- I won’t recount the details, but I think it had something to do with this article I just read in Parents magazine about Parents Who Change the World.
While I know it’s important to be aware of the multitude of dangers that lurk around every corner while we are raising our children, I really don’t think it should affect me to the point of waking me up in the middle of the night. After all, who of us, by worrying, can add a single hour to our lives?
After I woke and was completely relieved to find my sweet son sleeping soundly, I had the hardest time falling back to sleep because the dream rattled me so much. In that moment I decided to change my thought pattern and began reflecting on anything positive I could.
I found myself thinking about all of the things I have learned since my baby turned into a toddler…random things that no one could have predicted, but all things that bring little joys throughout my day. Here are some of my favorites:
- How fast my reflexes are! I’ve saved many a carpet from spilled drinks and food, stopped flying objects from hitting me in the face, and rerouted heads that were on a crash course with a table corner.
- How much I love spotting construction vehicles on the street. Whether it’s a cement truck, excavator, bulldozer, grader, forklift, crane or bobcat-all words I didn’t even know a couple of years ago- I love them. after all, we love what who we love loves (say that three times fast) and my son LOVES him some road work!
- Bugs and their little worlds are really fascinating and I can spend hours with my son studying their comings and goings.
- Bees really aren’t that scary
- How fun public transportation is
- That I really need to learn everything about everything because “Why Mommy?” Is his favorite question, and I hear it about 400 times per day.
Taking my mind off of the things I can’t control and reflecting on things that make me happy was exactly what I needed to sleep like a baby.
What are some of your favorite things you’ve learned since becoming a mother?